Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Pick Up The Pieces Again
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving today
Cool night, mellow light
Don't fade away
Your eyes, paradise
What do they say?
Leaving, loving
And after all the tears have fallen my way
You'd think that we could never feel the same
Love is strange
Pick up the pieces again
Long time, friend of mine
Words of farewell
Love is the learning
I knew you well
And after all the tears have fallen my way
You'd think that we could never feel the same
Love is strange
Pick up the pieces again
Pick up the pieces
“Pick Up The Pieces Again” by The Hollies is a love ballad that describes the sadness of a lover who is about to leave. The opening line, “Evening, I see the sun leaving today,” sets the emotional tone of the song. The image symbolizes the departing partner and the sadness the singer feels upon seeing them leave. The next line, “Cool night, mellow light, don’t fade away,” provides a sense of loss but also a hope that the love shared will not fade away. The singer then focuses on their partner’s eyes and describes them as “paradise”, wondering what they are saying as they are about to depart. Even though the singer’s partner is leaving, they still want them to stay one more day. The longing in the singer’s voice is palpable.
The second verse of the song introduces the idea of the passage of time and the wisdom that comes with it. The lyrics “Long time, friend of mine, words of farewell, love is the learning, I knew you well” suggest that the relationship between the lovers has been a long-standing one, but even though the relationship is ending, the experience of love is never wasted. The refrain of the song, “And after all the tears have fallen my way, you’d think that we could never feel the same, love is strange, pick up the pieces again,” is a poignant reminder that even though love can be painful, it is worth picking up the pieces and trying again.
Overall, the lyrics of “Pick Up The Pieces Again” are a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the power of love, its ability to hurt, and ultimately its capacity for healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Evening, I see the sun
As the day comes to a close, I notice the sun setting
Leaving today
Today is ending and soon it will be over
Cool night, mellow light
The night is calm and peaceful, with gentle lighting surrounding us
Don't fade away
Stay present in this moment and continue to shine your light upon us
Your eyes, paradise
Your eyes hold a world of beauty and wonder, like a paradise to behold
What do they say?
I wonder what thoughts and emotions are reflected in your gaze
Leaving, loving
Although we may be parting ways, there is still love between us
Stay one more day
I wish for you to remain with me for just a little bit longer
And after all the tears have fallen my way
Despite all the hardships I have faced and the tears shed, it seems impossible for us to move forward
You'd think that we could never feel the same
It seems as though the love we once had is lost forever and can never be recovered
Love is strange
Love is unpredictable and can often lead to unexpected outcomes
Pick up the pieces again
Despite the difficulties and heartbreak, it's important to gather ourselves and move forward
Long time, friend of mine
You have been a dear friend for quite some time
Words of farewell
As we part ways, I wish to express my words of goodbye and gratitude
Love is the learning
Through love, we gain knowledge and understanding of both ourselves and others
I knew you well
I had a deep connection and understanding of who you are as a person
Pick up the pieces
Even though it may be difficult, we must pick ourselves up and keep moving forward
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEAN FORD, TERRY SYLVESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.